No great revelations to share, this week. I am still working on the second route's versions of the final battle and epilogues, and the various perspective switches necessitate some new content, which the sneak peek is part of. I'll probably finish with the second route ending(s) some time this week, and then I'll start on the third, etc.
2026-01-04 15:39:57 +0000 UTC View Post
Note that, for this week's sneak peek, I went with randomly-chosen variables. For example, Laz will not pawn off his wedding-planning responsibilities to Belvidere if they are dead, you will not have the option of officiating your own wedding if you didn't attend the Fellowship Academy, your spouse will not kiss you if you are aromantic, etc.
It's becoming clear to me that I will not be able to finish writing the first draft of Years before the end of 2025. HOWEVER, I am on track to complete all of the final battle scenes and endings, which means that I just have to put everything together (change around the pronouns/flavor text and such), which shouldn't take me longer than a few weeks. I anticipate having the beta test by the end of January at the latest.
Also, I would like to thank my patrons for sticking with me during these past six months or so. You guys are the best!
2025-12-28 14:59:01 +0000 UTC View Post
I'm still working on the epilogues! This week's sneak peek is what happens when the Radicals win, MC1 was sentenced to death for sabotaging the dam, and characters successfully intervened to get them in prison for life rather than being executed. The letter for Lázaro occurs if he hates you. There are other letters for his other relationship values -- I just thought this one was funny!
2025-12-21 14:39:21 +0000 UTC View Post
I have completed the epilogues that occur if you join the Radicals and choose to lose to the Sovereignty. This particular snippet is from MC1's execution. Currently, I am working on the endings that occur if the Radicals win the battle.
2025-12-14 14:44:58 +0000 UTC View Post
Since last week's update, I have completed the entirety of the battle for the route where MC1 joined the Radicals and MC2 joined the Sovereignty. I am currently working on writing the epilogues for this route, and after that I will start on the route where MC1 joined the Sovereignty and MC2 joined the Radicals. What I have written for the epilogues is a little too gruesome for a weekly update (so far I only have what happens if you lose the battle), but I do have the header to share! It is technically a fantastical (though people thought it existed when the illustration was made) bird called a "coredulus," but I think it looks enough like a raven and/or crow to get the message of "hey, this is a carrion-eater consuming a heart and symbolizes the aftermath of a grisly conflict." Fun fact, ye olde naturalists basically wrote nothing about these birds except that they liked eating hearts.
Verily, yon wingéd fiend be pretty metal!
2025-12-07 15:26:40 +0000 UTC View Post
Some more sneak peeks for you, this week! I have finished the part of the battle where you were tied to a tree as MC1 and all the associated outcomes. I'm going to start writing the battle from the perspective of an imprisoned MC1, next.
2025-11-30 15:21:59 +0000 UTC View Post
Some more sneak peeks for you! I am continuing to work on the final battle and epilogue(s).
2025-11-23 16:24:56 +0000 UTC View Post
I have a few sneak peeks for you all, this week! Just as a summary, the final demo of These Reluctant Years was released to the public last week and I am continuing to work on the final battle and epilogue(s).
2025-11-16 15:13:38 +0000 UTC View PostThis is a public announcement.
THE FINAL PUBLIC DEMO OF THESE RELUCTANT YEARS IS NOW ACCESSIBLE.
It includes:
All six chapters of the story up until the final battle.
The battle and epilogue(s) are currently being written and will be accessible to beta testers and those who purchase the final game.
New content is the route in chapter six where both MC1 and MC2 joined the Radicals.
More than 1.5 million words.
A feature-complete quick-start menu.
Please note that the quick-start feature will NOT be present in the beta test or the final game – it is merely for ease of use for players who want to experience the newest content.
LINK.
___________________
It’s been a long few years, but I would like to thank everyone that stuck by me throughout everything! All of my supporters on the Choice of Games forum, Tumblr, Patreon, and elsewhere mean the world to me. I truly couldn’t have done any of this without you all, and I would like to extent my sincere gratitude to those who were patient with me as I juggled my career as a narrative designer (my “day job,” as it were) with writing Years. I can’t say it’s been the smoothest ride, but the end is in sight! Keep an eye out for a beta test and final release!
And once again, thank you, everyone! (:
2025-11-12 14:59:52 +0000 UTC View PostA bit of a smaller update, this week. I will start working on the final battle today. Work was somewhat delayed because I had a job to do for a client (I am still open to freelance writing while I'm working on Years).
Also, the final public demo will be accessible by the public this Wednesday.
2025-11-09 15:46:21 +0000 UTC View PostPatrons get exclusive access to story updates one week before the general public.
Link.
In this update, I have:
Completed the final public demo.
Added the route where both MC2 and MC1 joined the Radicals.
New content includes lots of different permutations of depending on who is confronting a saboteur.
Fixed various spelling, grammar, and continuity errors.
The new content is 401,908 words including code
I finally finished all of the confrontation permutations! Now, all that I have to write in chapter 6 are the trials of the main characters (if they get caught) and all the other lead-up to the final battle. I don't anticipate it taking very long, so the final version of the demo will probably be uploaded (for patrons first, of course) during the last half of this week or the first half of next week.
The fourth quarter of chapter 6 (where both MC1 and MC2 joined the Radicals) is currently 347,126 words (with code).
2025-11-02 15:11:35 +0000 UTC View PostNot a terribly long update for you, this week.
I released three quarters of the final public demo last week, and I am still working on the route of chapter 6 where both MC1 and MC2 joined the Radicals. The most time-consuming part by far is imagining all the potential conversations (and, consequently, their responses, and so on) during confrontations between the main characters. All of the potential dialogue changes based on if you are significant others, friends, allies, or enemies. And within those variables, the potential dialogue is different based on which of the radical leaders (if any) confront you after successfully destroying the dam. I have so far finished the confrontation between a saboteur MC2 and MC1, as well as the interactions between Laz, Bel, and Prudence if MC2 is either their significant other, friend, ally, or enemy. Keep in mind that MC1 can be present for that, also, and that Laz, Bel, or Prudence could be MC1's significant other, friend, ally, or enemy. As you can imagine, there are a lot of permutations!
Including code, the last quarter of the public demo for chapter 6 is currently 123,940 words.
2025-10-26 18:30:44 +0000 UTC View PostThis is a public update announcement. As a reminder, patrons get access to updates one week before the general public.
In this update, I have:
Uploaded three quarters of the final public demo.
Added the route where both MC2 and MC1 joined the Sovereignty.
Fixed various spelling, grammar, and continuity errors (the dam should now properly be built if you failed to destroy it).
Added the ability to choose a significant other for MC1 or MC2 and set if they are asexual or aromantic to the quick start feature.
Link.
2025-10-23 14:12:56 +0000 UTC View PostAccess to half of the final public demo for chapter 6 was given to the public yesterday, and I shared the route where both MC1 and MC2 joined the Sovereignty with my patrons last Thursday. Like every other week I've done this, the public will get to play that route this Thursday.
The final route, where both MC1 and MC2 joined the Radicals, will likely take me a longer to complete than the other parts of chapter 6. I am still able to copy/paste large parts of the narration, but the possibility for MC1 to confront MC2 while they're trying to sabotage the dam means that their dialogue is very complex. It is branching dialogue on top of branching dialogue, plus the opportunity for MC1 to join in if they're also a saboteur. I plan on giving the player the option to let them get away with the sabotage or be caught, and coding a double trial will add another layer of complexity to things.
And then after that, all that'll be left is the battle and the epilogue(s)! If you go into the files to read the code, you might have noticed that there are a couple variables named something like "rad_army_strength" and "sov_army_strength." These variables will increase or decrease depending on the main characters' actions during chapter and their previous adventures in the Colonies. For example, retrieving Unifier or succeeding in protecting it might give your side a confidence boost. Conversely, losing Unifier will weaken your side.
The bonds you've made will also either help or hinder you, though the impact depends on the character. Prudence, for example, is level-headed enough in combat situations that she would not be shaken by fighting on the same side as someone she hates. Lázaro, on the other hand (and as much as he doesn't want to!), might be more reactive. So both your actions and your relationships will play a key part in deciding the fate of the Colonies.
I will still add an option for victory against all odds, but the consequences will be very severe. Let's say your MC1 is fighting for the Radicals against MC2 and the Sovereignty. Everyone hates MC1, and MC2 has done everything the Sovereign has asked while MC1 failed and/or sabotaged the radical cause at every opportunity. The Radicals can still "win," but perhaps everyone except Lázaro will die (including main characters), the troops of both sides will mostly be dead, and there will be no one left to accomplish anyone's larger goals.
2025-10-19 14:35:24 +0000 UTC View PostThis is a public update announcement. As a reminder, patrons get access to updates one week before the general public.
In this update, I have:
Uploaded one half of the final public demo.
The route where MC1 joined the Sovereignty and MC2 joined the rebellion.
Fixed various spelling, grammar, and continuity errors.
Link.
2025-10-18 13:25:40 +0000 UTC View PostPatrons get exclusive access to story updates one week before the general public.
Link.
In this update, I have:
Completed three-fourths of the final public demo.
Added the route where both MC2 and MC1 joined the Sovereignty.
New content includes interactions between main characters, with things getting especially angsty if MC2 and MC1 were involved before MC1 chose to be with the Sovereign.
Fixed various spelling, grammar, and continuity errors.
Added some 64,400 words.
This is a public update announcement. As a reminder, patrons get access to updates one week before the general public.
In this update, I have:
Uploaded one quarter of the final public demo.
The route where MC1 joined the rebellion and MC2 joined the Sovereignty.
Fixed various spelling, grammar, and continuity errors.
Added some additional functionality to the quick start feature, including the ability to have had romance threshold events with multiple characters and the possibility to set your stats further to either extreme.
Written some 186,352 words.
Link.
2025-10-11 13:40:22 +0000 UTC View PostPatrons get exclusive access to story updates one week before the general public.
Link.
In this update, I have:
Completed one half of the final public demo.
Added the route where MC2 joined the rebellion and MC1 joined the Sovereignty.
Fixed various spelling, grammar, and continuity errors.
Added some 165,728 words.
The public demo part of chapter 6 was released to my patrons on Saturday. Speaking of patrons, we have a new one! I would like to be the first to welcome you, and also extend my thanks for choosing to support me. There's a big backlog of short stories, art, and other things that you've just gained access to, and I hope you enjoy them!
The second route (MC1 with Sovereignty, MC2 with Radicals) is coming along nicely. It's at about 60,000 words, currently. I don't anticipate the next update to take as long as the previous one did. When the different routes are just switching a main character's allegiance, like it is this time, I mostly just have to change pronouns and add in dialogue referencing their unique backgrounds (i.e. MC2 doesn't have a sibling named "Abner," etc.). This is not always the case, though. For example, in this route, the Sovereign will be a lot nicer to MC1 than he was to MC2 simply because MC1 is part of the nobility.
2025-10-07 17:55:22 +0000 UTC View PostPatrons get exclusive access to story updates one week before the general public.
Link.
In this update, I have:
Completed the public demo version of one quarter of chapter 6.
This is the route where MC1 has joined the Radicals and MC2 joined the Sovereignty.
Fixed various spelling, grammar, etc. errors.
Added 184,092 words.
I have completed all of the interactions that can occur if MC1 is confronted by someone while they're trying to sabotage the Radicals' plans. There were a lot of different possibilities (one for if you're romancing them, one if you're friends, another if you're allies, and one more if you're enemies), so it took me a long time to get through them all! I still need to write what happens after MC1 is caught and then the rest of MC2's lead-in to the battle, but I don't think that will take very long. I am anticipating that route A (MC2 joined the Sovereignty and MC1 joined the Radicals) will be finished some time during this week. And if not this one, then very early next week. Including code, chapter 6 is 151,790 words right now.
The "sneak peek" images are what happens when MC1 is romancing Prudence, successfully destroyed the dam, and was caught.
2025-09-28 15:53:36 +0000 UTC View Post
Chapter six is coming along well! It's about 47,000 words (including code) at the moment, and will likely be even longer than chapter five just because of the sheer number of permutations that I need to write. I am currently writing some scenarios where MC1 can be interrupted while trying to sabotage the barrier that the Radicals are trying to build in order to dam the mountain pass. Here are some screenshots from one particular path, where MC1 is romancing Laz.
Additionally, I think I will end the public demo for each route whenever the player reaches juuuust before the final battle. After that, I will write the outcome and the epilogue(s) and then set things up for beta testing. Unless I get hit by a bus, I expect to finish everything and get it submitted to Hosted Games before the end of the year.
2025-09-21 16:43:46 +0000 UTC View Post
Along with some added continuity and bug fixes, I'm still making steady progress on the first route (where MC2 joined the Sovereignty and MC1 did not). Everyone on the Sovereign's side has finally made it through the mountains, but the inexperience of our Mayhew didn't work out so well for many of those following him... The sneak peek screenshot is just after the Sovereign's entourage (including MC2) completed their route through the mountains.
2025-09-15 14:52:06 +0000 UTC View PostNothing very big in this week's update. I commissioned a new artist to draw a picture of Lázaro and uploaded it for patrons to see. I am also working steadily on chapter 6, starting with the route where MC2 joined the Sovereignty and MC1 joined the rebels. If the Sovereign does not trust MC2 (i.e. MC2's sovereigns_favor variable is less than one), then MC2 will spend most of the journey into the Uncharted Territories (to attack the Radicals) under arrest. If MC2 has aided the Sovereign enough, though, then they will have the chance to more directly influence the march to the mountain pass.
I'm thinking that chapter 6 will be the final chapter (though I will also write an epilogue), with the final public update ending just as the climactic final battle begins. After that, I will write the outcome of the war, have a beta test, and submit everything to the Hosted Games label for publication.
2025-09-07 18:56:35 +0000 UTC View Post
I have another piece of commissioned artwork to share! This time, it's Lázaro, again! He was drawn by the wonderful and talented sabh0.
Please support the artist on these other social media platforms.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sabho_ney/
2025-09-03 14:45:06 +0000 UTC View PostThis is a public update announcement. As a reminder, patrons get access to updates one week before the general public.
In this update, I have:
Completed chapter 5.
Added the route where both MC1 and MC2 joined the rebellion.
Fixed various spelling, grammar, and continuity errors.
Added the ability to choose how much favor the player characters have with the Sovereign to the quick start feature.
Realized I didn't properly upload the header images for chapter 5, so they should finally be visible.
Written 285,913 words in chapter 5.
Link.
2025-09-03 14:25:42 +0000 UTC View PostAnother pretty short update, this week. First, I would like to thank the newest patron for joining! Your support means a lot to me! Other than that, I will give the public access to the entirety of chapter 5 this week. I think it's the longest section of anything I've ever written -- the single chapter alone is like both of my other story-games combined in terms of word count. I've started writing chapter 6, and it's also looking like it will be a long one. Perhaps not quite so long as 5, considering I don't have to introduce any romantic relationships. There are more than a few variables that will influence the final battle, however, so I don't think it will be any easier to write. I'm starting out with the route where MC2 joined the Sovereignty without MC1, and it's particularly interesting to write that path because there's a chance that the Sovereign simply won't trust MC2 enough to let them participate in the battle at all.
2025-08-31 16:47:33 +0000 UTC View PostPatrons get exclusive access to story updates one week before the general public.
Link.
In this update, I have:
Completed chapter 5.
Added the route where both MC1 and MC2 have joined the Radicals.
Fixed various errors.
Added 74,976 words.
This is a public update announcement. As a reminder, patrons get access to updates one week before the general public.
In this update, I have:
Completed three-fourths of the routes for chapter 5.
The new content is the route where both MC1 and MC2 have joined the Sovereignty.
Fixed various spelling, grammar, and continuity errors.
Added 85,499 words.
Link.
2025-08-27 13:41:06 +0000 UTC View Post